Are Ivy Leagues worth the hype?
I’m planning on applying to some Ivies but I’ve read a lot of forums (not on collegevine) and heard stories from people who went to them and regretted it because of things like them just being another number to the school or it being too cutthroat. I’m really clueless about the whole college admissions process and college in general because, while I’m not a first gen student, my parents weren’t exactly high achievers and just went to online schools or community college. I have a 4.6 gpa and am projected to take 13 AP classes, and my ECs are pretty good, but I don’t know if I even want to go to a prestigious school like Harvard or Duke (I know that’s not an ivy, but it’s on par with them) or if I should.
Is it worth it to go to an Ivy League school? Are there any drawbacks or pluses that I didn’t mention?
I have also seen and read of lots of people that went to ivys and regretted it so here is my advice.
Forget the school is an ivy, looking purely at the programs they offer, aid, location, study abroad, etc. would you still want to go there? I know I said I have also seen people that regretted it but while it is a smaller number I have also know of some that loved it. Think of it this way, if you love the school regardless of its status then you will likely have what it takes to succeed there. The common factor with people that regretted it is that they went for the bragging right of going to an ivy. As you mentioned ivys are hard because you are with the best of the best, so often people struggle with no longer being one of the best anymore. My thoughts are that if you really like the school and would of gone even if it wasn't an ivy you will be more open and accepting to the work needed to succeed there. I know people can have personal reasons to want to go to an ivy like proving something to themselves but I feel even that might not be a strong enough reason to have the motivation to succeed there. This of course is just my opinion so feel free to disagree with it.
I would assume a plus is that if you want to work in a competitive field an ivy degree might help you. For things like stem or medicine a degree with a good gpa is really all you need is what I've been told since those are in demand. Not proofread.
Thanks! Your advice is really helpful. I'm planning on being a humanities major and eventually becoming a professor after getting field experience, if that puts it in context.
I think it does but know that if you try hard you can succeed regardless what school you attend. In that regard an ivy might be able to provide you with a lot of resources but it's up to you to do the work. You can have the resources but if you don't act on your own to use them it doesn't make a difference. Good luck! I think that if you wanted you are on a great track to go to an ivy if you choose to.
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